5 ms·
I fully agree with you regarding free speech. Where we probably differ is that I also uphold the rights of private companies, however large, to set their own st
by LocalPCGuy 6y ago
I fully agree with you regarding free speech. Where we probably differ is that I also uphold the rights of private companies, however large, to set their own standards of what can be posted to their platform. Now, if we want to have the debate about whether the platforms are too large, have too much power to shape the conversations we have, etc, we can have that debate. But it isn't censorship for a private company to remove information it believes violates it's standards (whether because it's false, misleading, or for other reasons).
- RIMR 6y agoIf anything, the first amendment explicitly protects a private organization's right to curate their own platforms the way they see fit. Twitter could declare support of Donald Trump a bannable offense today, and those people can promptly sign up for a site like Parler. And Parler has even more censorship. Adult work is completely legal in the US, and pornography is a form of constitutionally protected free speech, yet Parler strictly prohibits it on "Decency" grounds. I see no problem with social netoworks drawing a line in the sand. The big ones can draw a line at violence, hatred, and fascism. The little ones can draw the same line and stand shamefully on the other side. And nobody loses their right to speak.